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A Hybrid Reactor for Solar CO2 and N2 Conversion Coupled to WasteWater Treatment

Project description

Innovative concept for wastewater treatment

Photochemical oxidation of pollutants is an effective method for wastewater treatment. The EU-funded HYSOLCHEM project will focus on the development of a new concept combining a low-cost flow photoreactor prototype for reducing CO2 and N2 to produce fuels and chemicals (CH4, C2H4, C3H6 and NH3) with oxidation of microplastics and organic pollutants from wastewater treatment facilities. The project will apply an integrated method to design and synthesise highly efficient and stable photocathodes for CO2 and N2 reduction, develop low-cost and long-duration anodes for the electro-oxidation, design and produce cost-effective, selective and photo-stable ion-exchange membranes, advance characterisation of materials, and integrate developed CO2/N2 reduction photocathodes, waste/microplastic oxidation anodes and ion-exchange membranes in a solar-powered flow reactor.

Objective

The proposal focuses on the successful development of a new concept of low-cost flow photo-reactor prototype for the reduction of CO2 and N2 to produce fuels and chemicals (CH4, C2H4, C3H6 and NH3) coupled to the oxidation of microplastics and organic pollutants from wastewater treatment plants. To achieve this ground-breaking goal, an interdisciplinary consortium has been gathered that tackles the multiple involved challenges in a holistic manner: (i) Design and synthesis of highly efficient and stable photocathodes for CO2 and N2 reduction (ii) Development of low-cost and long-duration anodes for the electro-oxidation of microplastics and other organic pollutants in wastewater (iii) Design and fabrication of cost-effective, selective and photo-stable ion-exchange membranes (iv) Advanced characterisation of materials at different levels with state-of-the-art spectroscopic techniques (v) Integration of developed CO2/N2 reduction photocathodes, waste/microplastic oxidation anodes and ion-exchange membranes in a solar-powered flow reactor for simultaneous water detoxification and CO2/N2 valorisation (vi) Validation of the prototype in a wastewater treatment plant and (vii) study of the developed materials and devices from an environmental, economic and social point of view. In this ambitious work plan, the fundamentals of photocathodes, anodes and membranes will be revisited with a totally new insight based on the previous experience of the partners in other disciplines such as catalysis, materials science, batteries and water treatment. The likelihood for success of this high risk / high gain approach is supported by the strength of the consortium, with first-row researchers in the different joined disciplines with high complementarities and synergies. The presence of 3 SMEs with experience in managing and exploiting R&D results ensures the full exploitation of the potentially market-transferable results of the project.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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RIA - Research and Innovation action

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-FETPROACT-2018-2020

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Coordinator

Fundacion IMDEA Energia
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 801 875,00
Address
AVENIDA RAMON DE LA SAGRA 3
28935 Mostoles Madrid
Spain

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Region
Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid
Activity type
Research Organisations
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 801 875,00

Participants (6)

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